Nina Zilli

by Jason Birchmeier Nina Zilli is an Italian soul-pop singer whose full-length album debut, Sempre Lontano, was a Top Five hit upon its release in 2010. Born Maria Chiara Fraschetta on February 2, 1983, in Piacenza, Italy, she made her commercial recording debut as a solo artist in 2009 with the single "50 Mila," a collaboration with Giuliano Palma. Nina Zilli (2009), an eponymous eight-track EP, was released a couple months later on Universal Music. The EP showcased a range of styles, from R&B and reggae to Motown and '60s-style pop. Zilli made her full-length album debut the following year with Sempre Lontano (2010), which includes all eight of the songs from the EP plus four new ones. Featuring the lead single "L'Uomo Che Amava le Donne," which Zilli showcased at the 2010 Sanremo Festival, Sempre Lontano was a Top Five hit on the Italian albums chart.